The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Micrometre-scale scanning electron microscope image of atomic oxygen erosion of Kapton, typically used in multi-layer insulation of satellites. The central pillar of material is due to a metallic contaminant particle which serves to preserve the Kapton beneath it, while the polymer around it has been eaten away. Such results confirm ESA's new LEOX, Low Earth Orbit Facility atomic oxygen generator is working well, because at microscopic scale the test materials look just like materials that have actually retrieved from orbit in the past.